Tuesday, July 25, 2017

The Scandal Of It All by Sophie Jordan




A passionate story of newfound desire

Graciela, the Duchess of Autenberry, has dedicated her life to raising and caring for her daughter and step-children. It is a duty she takes most seriously, especially since they are all that give her life meaning. A widow, she has convinced the world that her husband was a wonderful man, but the truth isn't nearly as dazzling as she likes to present it. Now, after a close friend's death and seeking to remind herself of the youth she squandered on an unappreciative man, Graciela visits a scandalous club - an outing that leads her directly into the arms of her stepson's best friend, Lord Strickland.

Colin is seven years younger than Graciela, but that has not prevented him from secretly wanting her since the first time he saw her. Over the years, he's tried to ignore his desire. After all, nothing could be more wrong than wanting not only a married woman, but his best friend's step-mother to boot. But when a chance encounter with her makes him her rescuer, the kiss that follows reminds him of the illicit yearnings he's tried so hard to bury. Shockingly, it also reveals that she might not be as immune to him as he would have thought, but rather ready to welcome an affair, if he can only convince her that risking scandal would be worth every delicious second.

Sophie Jordan's books are marvelous and The Scandal Of It All is no exception. It's the story of a woman's struggle to maintain her reputation and preserve her family's good opinion of her while she also longs to welcome the passion she's otherwise been denied. A wonderful story I'd definitely recommend.

Lady Be Bad by Megan Frampton



An entertaining story about self-discovery and daring to live life to the fullest.

Lady Eleanor's marital fate is sealed. She will wed Lord Carson, a perfectly amicable gentleman with whom she can expect a comfortable life. The union will save her family's reputation while giving Lord Carson the fortune he needs. It's the perfect marriage of convenience, crafted by the parents. Until Lady Eleanor stumbles into a devil-may-care scoundrel during a visit to a book shop, responding to him and the wicked book he's buying, in a way she's never responded to any man before. Which leads to a tricky situation when she discovers that the man in question is in fact her intended's brother.

Lord Alexander Raybourn loves his brother and wants nothing more than to see him happy. A disappointment to their father, Alexander knows no one expects much of him, least of all after he gambled away a large chunk of the family fortune in an effort to fix his father's poor business decisions. So when his very busy brother tasks him with spending more time with Lady Eleanor in his stead, he agrees, even though he knows it's a terrible idea. Because there can be no denying his attraction toward her - an attraction that only grows by leaps and bounds when he also agrees to help her live a little before facing the dutiful state of matrimony looming before her. 

This was a lovely story of two people torn between doing the 'right thing' and their own happiness. It's about taking a leap of faith, of risking it all for love and a chance at a better future than anyone could have predicted. Megan Frampton's writing is wonderfully witty and this new book in The Duke's Daughters series is definitely worth picking up.



Monday, July 3, 2017

Video reading of A Most Unlikely Duke

Want to get a feel for how the characters from A Most Unlikely Duke sound in my head? Here's me reading an excerpt from chapter two.





He never thought he'd become a duke, or that the secrets of his past would cost him his greatest love...

Raphe Matthews hasn’t stepped foot in polite circles since a tragedy left his once-noble family impoverished and in debt. The bare-knuckle boxer has spent the last fifteen years eking out an existence for himself and his two sisters. But when a stunning reversal of fortune lands Raphe the title of Duke of Huntley, he’s determined to make a go of becoming a proper lord, but he’ll need a little help, and his captivating neighbor might be just the woman for the job…

After her sister’s scandalous match, Lady Gabriella knows the ton’s eyes are on her. Agreeing to tutor the brutish new duke can only lead to ruin. Although she tries to control her irresistible attraction to Raphe, every day she spends with him only deepens her realization that this may be the one man she cannot do without. And as scandal threatens to envelop them both, she must decide if she can risk everything for love with a most unlikely duke.